Roxas to Junjun Binay: You’re up against the law, not me

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY—It is not Mar Roxas who is up against you but the rule of law.

Amid the heated exchange between the two camps, Interior Secretary Manuel “Mar” Roxas II has only few words for suspended Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin “Junjun” Binay.

“Ito lang masasabi ko: Mayor, ang batas ng republika ng Pilipinas ang katapat mo dito. Hindi po ako; hindi po si Mar Roxas ang kalaban niya rito, batas po ang pinapairal natin,” Roxas told reporters here on Friday.

“Ang mga ebidensya sa pangungurakot ang siyang isyu dito na ang Ombudsman naman po ang nagsasabi,” he added.

Binay is embroiled in allegations of corruption after being linked in the questionable P1.3-billion construction of Makati City Science High School and the alleged overpriced Makati City Hall Building II worth P2.3 billion.

Following a slew of controversies, Binay was ordered suspended twice by the Office of the Ombudsman. He defied both orders which the Department of Interior and Local Government implemented.

He then vacated his post days after a melee erupted when his father, Vice President Jejomar Binay, attempted to remove police forces barricading the Makati City Hall grounds from their positions.

In a statement, JV Bautista, secretary general of the Binay-led United Nationalist Alliance, said it looked like Roxas used the PNP as his “private army” when around 700 policemen were sent to put up barricades around the city hall to block supporters from coming inside the building where Binay holed up before stepping down as Makati mayor.

“Makati City Hall has turned into a garrison blocking anybody, including employees, in the pretext of maintaining peace and order. Supporters who wished to express support to the beleaguered mayor were likewise shooed away.  Isn’t this an overkill if not in violation of the constitutional right to free assembly?” Bautista said.

At least 12 policemen were hurt in the standoff at the city hall, which lasted for two days since Binay got suspended. The PNP, according to officer in charge Deputy Dir. Gen. Leonardo Espina, will support the lawmen who will press charges against the Vice President.

When asked if he was indeed using the 150,000-strong police force as his own army, Roxas let out a laugh and said: “Ang masasabi ko lang po, ang batas ang katapat niyo dito—batas ng republika ng Pilipinas na siyang tinataguyod ng pamahalaan kasama na ng PNP.”